# Barley (*Hordeum vulgare*)

Barley is a tall grass that grows in fields. It is one of the oldest crops in the world and is used to make bread and beer!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Farms and fields
- **Also known as:** Barleycorn

![Barley](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426564/objects/5020.jpg)

## Appearance

The Barley has long, slender green leaves and tall stems topped with distinctive, bristly seed heads called 'awns.' These awns give the plant a bearded appearance, often varying from green to golden-yellow as they ripen.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Poales
- **Family:** Poaceae
- **Genus:** Hordeum

## Interesting facts

- Barley grains are super chewy and can make your soup extra hearty and yummy!
- Barley was one of the first grains ever farmed by humans, thousands of years ago!
- Long ago, people in some lands used barley grains as a form of ancient money!
- This amazing grain is used to make malt, a key ingredient in some sweet drinks!

## Special abilities

- **Cold Conqueror:** Barley can withstand colder temperatures and shorter growing seasons than many other cereals, helping it thrive in diverse climates.
- **Quick Sprout:** Barley has a fast growth cycle, allowing farmers to harvest it quickly, even in regions with short summers.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 50-120 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Early summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Self

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — A staple food used in many human diets.
- **Eaten by:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — Main feed for cattle on farms.
- **Eaten by:** [Sheep](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sheep) (*Ovis aries*) — Provides nutrition for grazing sheep.
- **Eaten by:** [Brown Rat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-rat) (*Rattus norvegicus*) — Rodents like rats often consume barley grains.

## Traits

- [Grain Crop](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grain-crop): This human use trait denotes species cultivated as grain crops, harvested for their edible dry seeds (grains), which are a staple food source.
- [Agricultural](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/agricultural): This human use trait describes species cultivated or domesticated by humans for agricultural purposes, including crops and livestock.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.

## Collections

- [Grasses](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses)
- [Grasses, Shrubs & Bushes](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses-shrubs-and-bushes)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Barley?

Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Barley?

50-120 cm

### When does Barley bloom?

Early summer

### Is Barley edible?

Yes

### Is Barley toxic?

None

### What is Barley's lifecycle?

Annual

### How is Barley pollinated?

Self

### Where is Barley usually found?

Farms and fields

## Where to spot

- [Flora und Botanischer Garten (Köln)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/flora-botanical-garden-cologne) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Barley: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barley)